The featured chart displays model estimates of daily solar radiation for Ames. The brown area represents the maximum potential based on long term estimates from the NARR model. The green area represents what was estimated for this year. Since there is an availability lag of the NARR data, a short term weather model (HRRR) is used to supplement this gap allowing for estimates up until yesterday. While the daylight time and solar declination changes are easily noticeable for this time of year, the actual difference in solar energy received is some 3-5 times less than what we get during the summer time. This energy difference makes it much more difficult to warm the ground during the winter time and thus warm the air. Recently, we have also had plenty of clouds, which has further limited the amount of radiation received. For warming to occur this time of year, we need help from the transfer of warmer air masses to our south into Iowa.

Voting:
Good = 16
Bad = 4
Abstain = 3

Tags:   radiation